By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The second annual St. Joseph Marathon is just over one week away, bringing runners from across the country to race throughout St. Joseph.
St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says the main goal for this year’s marathon was to build upon last year and hope to get more participants.
"And that's the question I get all the time now, is well what's registration look like?" Esely tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "Well, we're up right now about 25% from where we were last year, 530 participants from 30 plus states, and I've been looking at reports closely of where were we 16 days out, 12 days out, and we're up a little over 100 runners from where we were this time last year."
Esely says if the data continues to trend the way it has been, by race day they could see over 700 participants in the various marathons.
Esely says runners from 15 states, including California, Florida, and Washington, will participate in the race.
But not only does the marathon bring in people who have never been to St. Joseph potentially, Esely says it's also bringing some racers back home. something he realized after getting an email from one participant.
"And it simply said, I started my roots in St. Joseph in 1953, and doesn't live here anymore, so that means there's a chance that individual has not been back here since the 50's or the early 60's," Eseley says. "So, this event has brought maybe some folks that called St. Joseph home at one time and maybe haven't been back here in a number of years, back to this community."
And while participants are flowing in, there is still a need for volunteers to help with the event.
Esely says with so many moving parts to the marathon, a large number of volunteers is a necessity.
"I always tell people I don't know that any one moving part is overly difficult, there's just a lot of them, they can be a little overwhelming at times and so we were really fortunate last year with people that wanted to be a part," Esely explains. "And that's what I tell people, people say well how can we help, I say well first and foremost run, participate, that's what I want you to do, but if that's not something that you're interested in doing then volunteer, get involved."
The St. Joseph Marathon will be held on Saturday September 28th, with a full and half marathon, as well as a relay and 5K. You can sign up to participate, and also to volunteer, by clicking HERE.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.